Friday, July 2, 2010

We Need A Good State Park

We have a state park in San Angelo. Problem is, we need a good state park – one that does a better job of serving as a venue for fitness activities in the Concho Valley region. That’s understandably a provocative statement, so let’s take a closer look at the issue.

The mission statement for Texas State Parks is “Manage state parks and historic sites to conserve natural and cultural resources, provide recreational and educational opportunities, and foster an understanding of the diversity of Texas' lands and heritage for all generations” (source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Division web site).

How does San Angelo State Park (SASP) support that mission, and – more specifically- what are the specific goals for SASP? Is the purpose of SASP to be a large open space area where the buffalo roam and longhorns thrive, or is the local mission aimed more at being a recreational venue? Is the park intended to be an area where the Native American petroglyphs and prehistoric reptile tracks are preserved and studied?

Compared to some of the other state parks that come under the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division’s management, San Angelo State Park (SASP) doesn’t have much to offer. It doesn’t have scenic mountain vistas, flowing rivers, or a lake suitable for recreation.

The park doesn’t have shaded forest areas that attract people; instead, the primary vegetation within the park is mesquite and cactus. In short, it’s located in good country for some types of outdoor activities – especially those that don’t require much water, shade, or spectacular scenery. Cycling, hiking, and trail running are some of the activities that fit well within the geographic limitations of where the park is located.

Ten years ago, the predominate activities in SASP were mountain biking, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, and a limited amount of RV and tent camping. Cycling trails in the park were generally well maintained (at that time), with volunteers from the community providing their time to work on those trails. There was a general “come on out and enjoy” atmosphere.

The State Park was also once considered a premier “go to” location for cycling within Texas. The area served as the venue for state road cycling championship events, and also hosted West Texas Championship series mountain bike races. Although some smaller local events still take place in the park, the larger events (and associated tourism revenues) have moved on to other more inviting venues.

So, what has changed over the past few years? Is SASP underfunded? Are more employees needed? More importantly, is there a clear vision, a strategic plan with associated measurements, and a correlation between primary user group needs and how the park resources are managed?

It's not as if the State Park management hasn't been offered suggestions for improvement.  The park manager was presented with a detailed proposal in 2004 (and again in 2007)  that included suggested action items to help improve the park and generate more usage.   None of the suggestions have been implemented; in fact, some park conditions and policies have arguably gotten worse since then.  Those suggested strategies are listed at the end of this blog post.

According to records supplied by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, SASP has a staff of 11.33 FTE (“Full Time Equivalent”) employees and a 2010 budget of $376,150 ($264,902 salaries and $106,340 operations). Llano River State Park, which is arguably a more vibrant and better maintained area, has only 8.63 FTE and a similar budget of $393, 984 ($110, 556 operations).

Granted, Llano River SP is a smaller area (524 acres vs. 7,677 in San Angelo, but the majority of San Angelo’s acreage is simply undeveloped open space. Comparing developed area to developed area, Llano seems to do more with fewer employees.

Given that the State of Texas is facing a significant budget shortfall for the upcoming biennium, it’s critically important that we, as taxpayers, get a good return on investment for dollars spent to operate a tax-supported entity.

When local cyclists and runners were asked what could be improved at SASP to attract more users, the responses centered around common themes such as “keep trails maintained and mowed before they become unusable ….simplify front gate entry procedures (drivers license required, even when on a bike) …develop an end-to-end beginner trail …streamline procedures required to hold events in the park …change management attitudes to encourage more usage …”.

A common complaint centered on the park’s recent implementation of law enforcement techniques. As one (former) park user noted, “There’s very little traffic on park roads, so I assume the park officer with a radar gun is there to ensure that deer and jackrabbits don’t break the speed limit when they run across the road.”

The bottom line is that the park, as currently managed, is underutilized and should reach out to potential users for help in updating goals and developing strategies for improvement. A good starting point would be to ask the question “why don’t more people use the park, and what do we need to do to attract more visitors?”

(Suggested strategies, as presented to State Park management on multiple occassions)
 
1. Establish a broad based advisory committee for San Angelo State park, other than the Friends group. 
 
Problem description: The current input mechanism is either via individual user comments or through the Friends of the State Park organization. The Friends group does not effectively represent cyclists, hikers, and runners. The State Park management needs to receive input directly from user groups in order to improving venues and resolving conflict issues.
  • Action item/explanation: A broader advisory group would serve to advise SASP management on issues related to cycling, hiking, and trail running. This advisory group would provide a direct connection between SASP and organizations such as the San Angelo Bicycling Association (SABA) and the San Angelo Road Lizards running club. A suggested makeup for this advisory board would be a representative from the cycling and running clubs, plus six additional people representing cycling, hiking, and running.

 2. Improve relations with park user groups and volunteers from the community.

Problem description: The State Park does not have a good track record as relates to customer service and working to meet the needs of user groups and/or volunteers. Park management needs to reevaluate strategic plans to determine if management philosophy is a deterrent to increasing usage of the park.
  •  Action item/explanation: If the goal for the State Park is simply to be a repository for longhorn and buffalo herds, then that needs to be communicated to the regional community. If, however, the park’s goals include meeting the recreational needs of cyclists, hikers, and runners, then the park must be managed in a way that encourages usage by these groups. The classic example of this is closing all trails because some areas are muddy. This type of trail closing doesn’t stop the park’s animal population from damaging trails, but only prevents potential customers from using the park. In addition, policies regarding volunteer trail maintenance need to be re-evaluated. The current attitudes and procedures discourage people from doing volunteer work.

  3. Improve regional awareness of the State park and its recreational venues.

Problem description: More people need to be aware of what the State park offers in terms of recreational opportunities.

 4. Encourage groups to promote competitive and non-competitive cycling events in the State Park.

Problem description: SASP is underused as relates to hosting cycling, running, and multisport related events. This lack of utilization is partially due to a lack of awareness related to available venues, infrastructure, and procedures.
  • Action item/explanation: Although events are occasionally held in the State Park, there needs to be a planned effort to encourage and attract events and event promoters to use SASP. This could be as simple as a marketing link on the SASP web site that clearly outlines procedures, costs, and contact information related to scheduling activities in SASP.

  5. Plan and build an all weather trail that loops through the bounded by the Chaparral group shelter, cabins, Red Arroyo campground, and group shelter service road.

Problem description: SASP needs an all weather cycling, running, and walking trail that is available for day users, campers, and event participants.
  •  Action item/explanation: This new trail would serve multiple user groups. Casual cyclists and parents of younger children would benefit because this trail is close to and visible from the RV area, cabins, and Chaparral group shelter. Organizers of cycling events would use this loop for short course races and for the start/finish of longer events. In addition, a trail in this area “surfaced” with crushed gravel would offer an all-weather venue to off road cyclists when the normal trails are closed due to muddy conditions.

 6. Plan and build a “Central Expressway” route that connects from the OC Fisher dam to the North Concho camping areas.
Problem description: A significant number of entry level cyclists, runners, and hikers do not use the SASP trails because of rough single track trails, and because the existing trails present a confused maze to novice users.
  •  Action item/explanation: This “Central Expressway” trail would be a combination of existing service roads and new 6’ wide sections of trail that follow gently rolling routes. This recreational arterial would provide a less intimidating venue for casual cyclists, runners, and walkers, and would connect all major parking and camping areas in the park. Ideally, this route would be designed with minimal grades (i.e., no step climbs or descents), and would connect to the major trail heads and camping areas.

 7. Develop an improved trail map for mountain bikers, runners, and hikers with trails classified by level of difficulty, and a route map for on-road cyclists. Improve the trail marking signage.
Problem description: As noted in #6 above, the existing trails and map present a confused maze to new SASP visitors.
 8. Improve the restroom facilities at trailheads and other areas that are heavily used by cyclists and runners.

Problem description: The infrastructure is poor at major trailheads such as the Burkett area.

  •  Action item/explanation: The majority of off-road cyclists start and finish their rides at the Burkett trail head. Unfortunately, restrooms at this location are in very poor condition. It has also been mentioned that the SASP “master plan” calls for the Burkett trailhead restrooms to be demolished, which would obviously be a step in the wrong direction. The facilities at Burkett trailhead and other projected high use areas such as Isabel Harte and near the Chaparral group shelter should be identified as high priority projects for future remodeling and/or construction.

 9. Design and build an outdoor amphitheater in the area near the Chaparral group shelter
Problem description: SASP does not have a focal point for activities such as nature presentations, outdoor classes, and awards ceremonies after events.
  • Action item/explanation: An amphitheater would ideally be constructed near the Chaparral group shelter or Red Arroyo RV area using existing natural terrain contours and native rock seating (i.e., a design similar to the River Stage seating in downtown San Angelo. This facility would serve as a venue for SASP presentations, concerts, cycling classes offered by Angelo State University, and activities such as award presentations after events. Ideally, this amphitheater would be within walking distance of the red Arroyo RV area and cabins, and would be located in close proximity to the all weather trail described in strategy #5 above.


UPCOMING EVENTS

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Friday, June 11, 2010

One Year Checkup

Summer is dammed sure here ... everyone is already complaining about the hot and humid conditions this far.   Run in the Sun will take place this coming Saturday in typical mid-June conditions, and people are already planning vacations to cooler climates.   Weekend workouts have shifted to early morning time slots, and triathletes are methodically swimming circles around the buoys at the Lake Nasworthy swim beach.  Me ... I've made reservations up in the Colorado high country for several weeks in August.



I've been mapping out on a new bike (or long run?) loop that circles Twin Buttes reservoir.   Given the lack of trail maintenance at the State Park and wanting to find another off-road venue to complement the Spillway area, I decided to explore the back side of the lake.   You can read about one section of the new loop here: http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/jun/04/enjoy-the-scenery-on-trail-behind-twin-buttes/.  I'm also toying with the idea of a cycling race next Spring that would circle the lake, and be about 50/50 on and off road.   Kind of a San Angelo-Roubaix type of event.   Here's what the course might look like (be sure to set the map view as "Satellite" when it opens), and then zoom in for details: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/san-angelo/785127600859987433.

This week marks the one year anniversary of my colon cancer diagnosis. I’m happy to report that I’m still here, doing well, and I’m back to doing hard workouts again.  The past twelve months has been a mixed bag of emotions ranging from initial denial (“not me?”) to acceptance and “how do I deal with this?”, and then on to “OK, chin up and let’s get on with life!”. I’ve also learned a lot in the process, and here are a few of those lessons.
  •  Lesson #1: Cancer strikes one out of every three people, and – even though we may be in great physical shape and do all of the right things – there’s no guarantee of immunity from the disease.
  • Lesson #2: Go through the health checkups and tests as (and when) recommended by your primary care physician. Follow up immediately if you have any health warning signs.
  • Lesson #3: The glass does always remain half full – but you may have to add to it occasionally.
  • Lesson #4: Setting some positive goals that extend beyond the treatment period is critical. Doing so forces (enables?) you to see the light at the end of the tunnel and thus keep moving forward.
  • Lesson #5: There are many things that can’t be controlled while you’re undergoing chemotherapy. You can, however, control whether or not you continue to exercise and thus maintain (at least partially) the sense of well being that comes with regular workouts.
 As I noted in a newspaper column that I wrote in July of 2009 (www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/jul/24/building-fitness-back-up/), I had to start over and completely rebuild my fitness base. Doing so has been an interesting journey, and it’s not over yet. I’m back to a pre-cancer level of cycling fitness, but still struggling with my running. Some of that may have more to do with being 61 years old than it does with post-treatment side effects.

The goals that I set for myself early on during my recovery from surgery and subsequent chemotherapy were to (1) be able to bike and run at a specific pace by the end of treatments, and (2) to compete in the State Cyclocross Championships which took place three weeks after my chemo ended. I met all of those benchmarks, and actually turned in a respectable performance during the championship race. Focusing on those goals was, in my opinion, the single most important factor that helped me maintain a positive attitude during the six months of chemotherapy.

I’m currently well into a training program for the 2010-2011 cyclocross season, and part of that program involves a monthly cycling field test. Since I don’t use a power meter, the data I collect during this test are (1) elapsed time during a set of 2 3-mile all out time trials, (2) the max heart rate during each TT test, and (3) the % of my max HR that I can maintain during the tests.

My field test numbers at the end of May were better by several percentage points that what I recorded in 2008. The goal now is to reach a higher fitness level this year that I’ve had for the past several years. Having gone through cancer treatments will not be used as an excuse for sub-par performances.

So, where to from here? I hope that I can take what I’ve learned from my cancer experience and be a good role model for others who have to go down the same road. I also hope that, because of the cancer experience, I’ve developed some mental toughness that will carry over to race situations.

Ride On, San Angelo, and remember – regular exercise will help accentuate the positive in almost all situations :)


Equipment and Bikes for Sale 
  • Multiple bikes, very good condition, pictures coming soon- contact Dean McKenzie at dpmck@juno.com
  • Carbon fiber road bike, high end components, pictures coming soon, contact Ty Johnson at tymtber@peoplepc.com.
  • Complete Shimano 105 group, all components, will build onto your frame if needed, contact Ty Johnson at tymtber@peoplepc.com
  • Used Specialized road bike frame, 57" top tube, good condition with headset and stem.   Contact bcullins@verizon.net


Upcoming Events:

 

 

 
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Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Season Is Here

Summer is here. Not officially, but since the forecast for today is almost 100 degrees, we can safely assume that “the season is here”.

So, what does “the season” mean? For cyclists, it means that the Tuesday/Thursday World Championships (Loop Group rides) are in full swing. The hammerheads converge on TXDOT each Tuesday and Thursday evening, talk a little trash, and then proceed to pound each other on the bike. The rest of us follow in their wake and just enjoy the ride ...

Runners are also “in season”. Late afternoon runs are starting to shift toward early morning sessions when it’s cooler, and there’s a running event almost every weekend. Trail runners have started putting someone out front as the Snake Patrol sacrifice. In addition, flyers are out for Run in the Sun, one of the traditional running events on the San Angelo calendar. Visit http://roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/Runinsun2010flyer.pdf for information.

Triathletes are finally waking up from their cool weather slumber, and starting to venture out of the pool and into the lake for open water swim workouts. New TT bikes, aero wheels, and super-fast transition racing flats have all appeared. Striders Duathlon has come and gone, and tri-geeks are starting to focus on their “A” events for this season.

There’s also a new event on the San Angelo calendar this year. The Loco Lizard Adventure Race is scheduled for June 6 in Middle Concho Park (same location as Striders Duathlon). This event will pit teams of two or three against multiple challenges to include kayaking, mountain biking, trail running/trekking, and land navigation. Christina McBride, an experienced adventure racer, triathlete, and fitness coach, is the promoter and race director. This should be a fun event … details are posted at http://roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/LocoLizardJun2010.pdf.

For the rest of us, we’re just enjoying rides and runs without wearing multiple layers of clothes. The two-wheeled traffic over Burma is increasing, and the “run till you drop” crowd is meeting up for LSD workouts.

For me, it’s a little different …. my cyclocross season takes place in the dead of winter, so I’m doing base and strength work for the next couple of months. My approach will be a little different this year, with more emphasis on speed and explosive strength than in past seasons. I’ll be doing weekly MSS workouts (“Maximum Sustained Speed”) and even adding some VO2 max sessions occasionally. I’ll also race a few Texas Cup road events with the shaved-leg crowd as part of my summer training. All of this will (hopefully) prepare me for a run at cyclocross Nationals in December and the Texas CX championships in January.

I’m also exploring a new off-road loop that will go around the south and west ends of Twin Buttes reservoir. The goal is to establish a course that can be used next spring for a Paris-Roubaix type of race (a combination of good pavement, bad pavement, and some dirt roads). Maybe we’ll be able to finally determine if roadies or mountain bikers are the strongest cyclists.

Upcoming Events

May 8:  Mountain bike time trial #1, http://www.sanangelobicycleassociation.com/
May 8: Critter Crawl 5K, http://roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/CritterCrawlFlyer_2010.pdf
May 8: H.O.T. Ride Brady, http://www.sanangelobicycleassociation.com/events/calendar.html
May 22: Chips Run, http://roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/ChipsRun_2010flyer2.pdf
May 30:  Road bike time trial, http://www.sanangelobicycleassociation.com/events/calendar.html
June 6:  Loco Lizard Adventure Race, http://roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/LocoLizardJun2010.pdf
June 12:  Run in the Sun, http://roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/Runinsun2010flyer.pdf
June 19:  Tour de Burma, http://www.sanangelobicycleassociation.com/events/calendar.html


Equipment for Sale
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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Do Unto Others

During the 1970’s, a Texas oilman named Eddie Chiles did numerous radio commentaries. His trade-mark sign-on of “I’m Eddie Chiles, and I’m mad as hell” led to a widely distributed bumper sticker that read “I’m mad too, Eddie.”

Fast forward to 2010 and yes, Eddie, I’m mad too. In this case, the problem is egos.

As the self-appointed High Sheriff of Athlete Ego Issues, I’ve decided that this is Dodge City and I’m gonna take action.

You see, there’s a very small minority within the local cycling and running community that wants to marginalize the efforts of people who are not (in their opinion) good runners or cyclists.

That attitude bothers me. In fact, it’s best described using words that are not printable.

The majority of us put forth a lot of effort encouraging people to exercise. We don’t care if you’re an absolute beginner, slow, overweight, or awkward. We don’t care if you wear the “proper” clothing or use pro-level equipment. We just want to see you working out, becoming more fit, and staying healthy.

Most of the people we encourage will never become a marathoner, an ironman triathlete, or a long distance cyclist. That’s a good thing – it indicates they have a real life and are more socially balanced than most of the extreme athletes.

In a newspaper column that I wrote back in July of last year, I discussed some fitness goals that I set for myself while starting over after a serious illness. Two of those goals were to rebuild my fitness back to where I could comfortably jog four miles at a 9 min/mile pace, and ride a bicycle for one hour at a 17 mile/hour pace.

Those goals, while considered lofty by a fitness beginner, don’t match up to the standards set by the ego-athletes. That’s the problem we need to solve.

As the High Sheriff of Athlete Ego Issues, I’m hereby establishing some Athlete Ego Ordinances that will take effect immediately. No public hearings – no city council approval needed – this is the Wild West and infractions will be dealt with harshly and swiftly.

Athlete Ego Ordinance #1 bans all public display of egos when targeted at fitness beginners. The sole exception will be peer to peer displays of (good natured) kidding about athletic shortfalls.

Athlete Ego Ordinance #2 requires all experienced athletes to encourage, mentor, and support fitness beginners. This includes slowing down while on the bike and actually speaking to slower cyclists, and cheering on beginning joggers who are shuffling along at a slow pace.

Athlete Ego Ordinance #3 will make ridiculing those who don’t wear or own pro-level equipment a class CP misdemeanor offense, punishable by five consecutive days of CP (colonoscopy prep).

In all seriousness, experienced cyclists, runners, and multisport athletes are our best ambassadors for encouraging more people to pursue fitness activities. We’re all proud of what we’ve accomplished (myself included), and best way to leverage our accomplishments is to help other people be successful in achieving their fitness goals.

Doing that may require nothing more than being a helpful, supportive role model and remembering that – at one time – all of us were complete beginners. Luke 6:31 is probably a good place to start.

Ride On, San Angelo, and remember … the new Athlete Ego Ordinances are now in effect!



Upcoming Events

Cycling events: http://www.sanangelobicycleassociation.com//

Running events: http://www.roadlizards.org/

April 24: Back to School Eola run, http://www.roadlizards.org/

May 1: ASU Physical Therapy run www.angelo.edu/asufit

May 7: Bike-Pedestrian Healthy Communities presentation, www.angelo.edu/asufit

May 8: Critter Crawl run, http://www.roadlizards.org/

May 8: HOT Ride Brady, lmunden@bradyisd.org

June 6: Loco Lizard Adventure Race, http://4.bp.blogspot.com/


Equipment for Sale


Elliptical trainer, Smooth Fitness CE 2.7. Paid 1200.00 but will sell it for 700. Contact Jason at 325 617 4137 or mondiesman@yahoo.com
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Monday, April 19, 2010

Pedaling backward?

My apologies …I am way behind schedule in getting this blog update posted. My work load in my real job at Angelo State University has been crazy of late, and since it pays the bills I have to focus on it first. The good news is that one of my ASU projects, the university’s Fitness and Wellness program, is really doing well. More on that program in a future blog posting.


The top multisport athletes in Texas converged on San Angelo this past Sunday to compete in the 2010 Striders Duathlon. State Champions were crowned in the short course division, with other athletes competing for bragging rights in the legendary long course race. The event took place on a Middle Concho Park course that was modified due to muddy conditions.

In the Men’s division, Chris Aarhus of San Antonio blazed through the run and bike legs of the short course event in a time of 1:28:56 to collect the overall win and become a new State Champion. Stefani Langehinning of Austin came out on top in the female division, posting a winning time of 1:39:11.

Long course racers began their day with a 5-mile run, and then transitioned to the bike for a challenging 50 mile ride that took them from Middle Concho Park to Christoval, across a hilly stretch of chip sealed road to Knickerbocker, and then back to San Angelo. After working up a sweat on the first run, racers were quickly cooled off by the stiff north-west wind that seemed to be in their face on all parts of the bike course.

Patrick Schuster of Arlington, an Ironman triathlete from Arlington, led the long course pack home with a time of 2:28:46. San Angelo’s Christina Templin took top honors in the Female long course division in a time of 3:26:44. Full results for the Striders event are posted at http://www.mychiptime.com/searchevent.php?id=4559.

I’m troubled by some of what I see happening within the local (San Angelo, Texas) bike-run-multisport community. Through 2008 and most of 2009, there were positive local indicators related to collaborative activities, getting more people involved in endurance sports, and related fitness events. These indicators included things such as a comprehensive master calendar of local/regional events, a monthly meeting of organizations that were working together, and numerous jointly-sponsored events. Fast forward to 2010, and (in my opinion) we’re pedaling backward.

While there has been continued growth in the number of participants, the focus on “community” instead of “my group” seems to have regressed. A master calendar for regional events is non-existent this year, and organizations seem to have gone back to more of a single sport focus (runners, cyclists, etc.). While this may be a good short term growth strategy for some individuals or organizations, it’s detrimental to overall community efforts and to the quality of events. In short, we need to move back to a community effort instead of concentrating on “wear the T-shirt from XXX club”.

On a related note, I attended a TxDot Town Hall meeting last week where we listened to local and state officials talk about transportation issues. My interest was not in learning about how many more reads we’re going to build or re-build, but instead what the outlook is for implementation of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure such as marked bike lanes, off-street paths, and a reversal of the chip seal takeover. The take-home message that I heard was that bike/ped issues are a low priority, and will probably continue to get the same lip service (and lack of action) as has been the case for several years. We need to refocus and re-think our community’s efforts related to that issue. Again, more to come on this in a later blog update.

In my last update, I mentioned a lady who didn’t want to do much cardio exercise “…because I’m naturally thin and don’t want to lose more weight.” That prompted me to add a poll to the blog, and your response indicated that 66% of you prefer a trim, athletic body as compared to movie-star curvy or distance runner thin. The results are in … bike, run, lift, and do the cardio to look good. We like muscles, but we prefer fast ones.

There are some exciting events and activities coming up. On May 7, the ASUFit program at the university will be bringing in Linda DuPriest as the speaker for the monthly Brown Bag luncheon. Linda is a consultant in the field of non-motorized transportation, she’s in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, and … best of all .. she’s an articulate and friendly person. This event is open to the public, so please make plans to attend. Contact Katherine.Garrison@angelo.edu for more info, or call 486-6244.

Other great upcoming events include Tour de Burma, Run in the Sun, and the Loco Lizards Adventure Race scheduled for June 6. Check out the “Upcoming Events” link below FMI.


UPCOMING EVENTS

June 6: Loco Lizards Adventure race (see event flyer above)

June 6: Fredericksburg road race (cycling), http://txbra.org/events/event.asp?EventID=1978

Running events: http://www.roadlizards.org/

Cycling events: http://www.sanangelobicycleassociation.com/events/calendar.html


Equipment for Sale

Elliptical trainer, Smooth Fitness CE 2.7. Paid 1200.00 but will sell it for 700. Contact Jason at 325 617 4137 or mondiesman@yahoo.com
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Sunday, March 7, 2010

Spring is almost here!

Spring is about here, with the time changing next week. The good news will be more time to ride and run after work … bad news is that, for a few weeks, we feel like it’s too dammed early when the alarm clock goes off.

 
I was contacted by a lady a few weeks ago regarding fitness programs. She made a really interesting comment, “I don’t want to do much cardio exercise because I’m naturally thin and don’t want to lose more weight.” Her comment got me to thinking about what is the body type that most people find attractive (i.e., thin like a distance runner, voluptuous like a movie star, or trim but muscular like a multisport athlete?). Cast your vote on the “Body Type” poll to the right.

I’ve seen a lot more folks riding Burma Road over the past few weeks. For those of you new to San Angelo, Burma is a favorite local ride that has a number of short but moderately steep hills. It’s a great natural interval session … work the up hills hard and then recover on the descents. Most people start their Burma ride in or at the edge of San Angelo, and ride Arden Road out west of town until they reach the Burma turn off. Here’s a link to the Burma route, although the ride can be longer or shorter depending on the start and turn around point: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/san-angelo/29001515. The first local time trial event of the 2010 season will be held on Sunday, March 14, at 2 pm, with the start area being on Burma just past the Burma/Arden intersection. .

Speaking of TT events, the cycling club sent out a request last year soliciting suggestions for trial courses. My personal opinion is that a different course should be used each month to break up the routine and to provide a variety of challenges. Listed below are the suggestions that I submitted. Even if the club chooses not to use any of these courses, they may be useful to you as “TT training rides.”

Ever thought about dropping out during a race or workout? This guy says “no way”: http://www.cxmagazine.com/lee-waldman-takes-time-to-reflect-on-quitting-cyclocross-races#more-11195


UPCOMING EVENTS



Equipment for Sale

Elliptical trainer, Smooth Fitness CE 2.7. Paid 1200.00 but will sell it for 700. Contact Jason at 325 617 4137 or mondiesman@yahoo.com
.









 Giant OCR Limited: A beautful carbon fiber road bike, almost new, size should fit anyone between 5’2” and 5’8”, full carbon frame and fork, 10 speed Ultegra, triple crank, includes a set of carbon aero bars. Price $900, retailed for over twice that much. Contact Dean McKenzie at dpmck@juno.com, or (325) 896-2083.



 Cannondale R1000: 53 cm compact geometry road bike, Ultegra components, Mavic Open pro wheels, double 53/39 crank set, should fit anyone who is around 5”7”. Price $400, contact Dean McKenzie at dpmck@juno.com, or (325) 896-2083.













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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Race Across America?

Most of us consider 30-40 miles to be a nice long bike ride. Not so for cyclist Dex Tooke of Del Rio – he’s planning to ride across America, west coast to east coast, solo and with very little rest time. Now, Dex isn’t your average cyclist. For starters, he’s 60 and thus considered to be a senior citizen by cycling standards. But more importantly, he’s an accomplished ultra endurance athlete with an impressive resume of long distance events.

He’s completed 24 hour running events during which he runs over 100 miles, a solo 600 mile “workout” on the bike, and has ridden cross country from Del Rio to El Paso. During 2009, his total cycling mileage was over 20,000 miles, with 57 rides over 100 miles in length. Most of us don’t drive 20,000 miles per year in a car, much less ride a bicycle that far.

The event that he’s training for is Race Across America (RAAM). It starts on June 9th and is a non-stop transcontinental bicycle race of over 3000 miles starting in Oceanside, California, and ending in Annapolis, Maryland. Competitors in the solo division of RAAM will finish (if they finish) in 9-12 days covering 250-350 miles per day (read more).

The local duathlon season is just around the corner, with the Striders event scheduled for April 18 and the Spillway Hill Off-Road on May 2nd. Striders is a road event and will have two distances: 5K/40K/5K or 8K/74K/8k. The short course event is the 2010 Texas Short Course Duathlon Championships. The start/finish for Striders is near the front restroom in Middle Concho Park.   The Spillway event has traditionally been a 2.5 mile trail run, 10 mile mountain bike, and a final run in Middle Concho Park that follows the same route as run #1. Information regarding this year’s event has not been released, so the location, course distances, and start times are still TBA.

A cyclist was killed this past week while riding his bike on Knickerbocker Blvd. a few blocks north of Loop 306. This tragedy is a sad reminder that we all need to bike defensibly while riding, especially on roads with heavy traffic. Wear your helmet, use a flashing rear light after sunset, and think about using a route that stays off of main roads. Our condolences go out to his family.

The Trail Running Series concluded on February 20th with the 15K event in San Angelo State Park. Race #3 results and the Overall results are posted on the Road Lizards web site at http://www.roadlizards.org// (click on the Race Results tab on the upper menu bar).


Equipment for Sale

Giant OCR Limited: A beautful carbon fiber road bike, almost new, size should fit anyone between 5’2” and 5’8”, full carbon frame and fork, 10 speed Ultegra, triple crank, includes a set of carbon aero bars. Price $900, retailed for over twice that much. Contact Dean McKenzie at dpmck@juno.com, or (325) 896-2083.







Cannondale R1000: 53 cm compact geometry road bike, Ultegra components, Mavic Open pro wheels, double 53/39 crank set, should fit anyone who is around 5”7”. Price $400, contact Dean McKenzie at dpmck@juno.com, or (325) 896-2083.









Upcoming Events

March 6: Green River Run 5K and 1-mile run/walk, www.roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/Green_River_Run_2010.pdf

April 10-11: Fort Davis Hammerfest cycling stage race, www.txbra.org/db/events/2010FortDavis.pdf

April 18: Striders Duathlon, Middle Concho Park, San Angelo, www.ironheadrp.com/striders/index.html

May 2:  Spillway Off Road Duathlon, details TBA
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